Development Aid: Sierra Leone

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will increase their aid, and ask the European Union to do likewise, to countries such as Sierra Leone, which could become models for their region.

Baroness Amos: We already fund a substantial development programme in Sierra Leone, running at well over £30 million a year, and plan to expand it still further over the next few years. The EC should have up to 220 million euros of European Development Fund money available for Sierra Leone over the next five years, on top of funding for humanitarian and human rights work there. We are in regular touch with the Commission to encourage it to speed up the rate at which it disburses its funds in Sierra Leone.
	We fully recognise the demonstration effect that well performing countries can have for others in their region. In the case of Sierra Leone, we would hope that this impact could extend beyond West Africa, and serve as a model for other countries coming out of conflict throughout the whole of Africa.

SADC Meeting 17 December 2001

The Earl of Caithness: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What decisions were taken at the Southern African Development Community meeting on 17 December.

Baroness Amos: The Committee of Ministers responsible for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation met in Luanda, Angola on 17 and 18 December. All 14 SADC member states were represented. Discussions centred on terrorism in Angola and the situations prevailing in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with particular reference to the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, and Zimbabwe. Preparations for elections in Lesotho and Zambia were also discussed. Ministers also strongly condemned the acts of terrorism of 11 September in the United States. Ministers approved a mechanism for funding Organ activities and a strategy for co-operation with regional and international donors.

"Raves"

Lord Campbell of Croy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will introduce legislation to reform the present arrangements for the holding of large social gatherings, commonly known as "raves", indoors in the open.

Lord Rooker: The current powers in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 relating to unlawful "raves" concern events organised in the open air and do not cover events in an enclosed barn or other building. However, the local authority does have certain powers in relation to noise and can serve orders requiring the organisers to reduce noise if complaints are made.
	The Government have no present plans to introduce new legislation but routinely keep such legislation under review.

Sexual Offences: Reviews of Convictions

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will initiate reviews of convictions for sexual offences since 1994 which were based on uncorroborated allegations.

Lord Rooker: The Home Secretary's powers to review criminal convictions came to an end on 31 March 1997. These were replaced by new powers vested in an independent body, the Criminal Cases Review Commission. The commission has a main responsibility under the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 to review suspected miscarriages of justice, and to refer a conviction, verdict, finding or sentence to the appropriate court of appeal when the commission considers that there is a real possibility that it would not be upheld.
	There is no central record of convictions for sexual offences since 1994, which were based on uncorroborated allegations. However, it is open to individuals with such a conviction or anyone acting on their behalf to apply to the commission for a case to be reviewed.

Asylum Seekers: Detention in Prisons

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will announce their plans for the detention of asylum seekers in prisons.

Lord Rooker: By the end of January immigration detainees held in local prisons will, if their detention is to continue, be transferred to immigration removal centres. This has been made possible by the opening of three new removal centres at Harmondsworth, near Heathrow, Dungavel in Lanarkshire, and at Yarlswood in Bedfordshire.
	Additionally, immigration detainees are held in two dedicated prison establishments: a unit in Her Majesty's Prison Lindholme, near Doncaster; and Her Majesty's Prison Haslar. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary is taking steps to establish these as immigration removal centres under the control of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office as from February. Detainees in these establishments will be subject to Detention Centre Rules, rather than the Prison Rules as at present. It may take some time before the facilities in the new centres match those of other removal centres, but that is our intention.
	Asylum seekers are also detained in two wings of Her Majesty's Prison Rochester. These detainees will be transferred to other immigration removal centres by the end of January. A new removal centre will be established at Her Majesty's Prison Dover in the spring.
	It will always remain necessary to hold small numbers of immigration detainees including asylum seekers in prisons for reasons of security, or who are awaiting deportation on conclusion of a prison sentence. Any asylum seeker who is held on suspicion of having committed a criminal offence, or is serving a custodial sentence will also be held in prison.

Northern Ireland: Bill of Rights

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have responded in any way to the draft Bill of Rights submitted by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and whether they will publish any letter or letters sent to the Chief Commissioner.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission published a consultation document on 4 September setting out its preliminary thinking on the scope for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The Government look forward to receiving the commission's formal recommendations next year and will determine their response thereafter.
	In the meantime, Des Browne MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office, has written to Brice Dickson, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on 22 November highlighting some general issues for consideration. A copy of this letter, which does not represent the final position of the Government, has been placed in the Library of the House.

Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the complaints procedure for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Chief Commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which individuals and organisations who believe that their human rights might have been infringed have received financial support from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission since 1999; and, in each case, how much they received.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Chief Commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 11 December (WA198–99), whether the reappointment of the existing members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission means that they consider that the commissioners performed satisfactorily during their current term.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The reappointments of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioners were made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice.
	The role of the Chief Commissioner was set out in the original advertisement, which appeared in the press on 24 November 1998:
	Providing strategic direction and leadership for the Commission;
	Representing the Commission in public;
	Developing and maintaining the Commission's external relationships at the highest level; and
	Accounting for the expenditure of the Commission.
	The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has considered whether the Chief Commissioner, Brice Dickson, has fulfilled this role and has concluded that he should be reappointed for a further term.
	Performance appraisal of the other commission members is a matter for the Chief Commissioner. In considering whether or not they should be reappointed, the Government sought and received an assessment from the Chief Commissioner of whether or not their performance had been satisfactory. This too was in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice. All the existing commissioners received a satisfactory assessment.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 10 January (HL2036) concerning the design of badges for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, whether they will outline the reasons why no competitive tendering process was undertaken.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: As I explained in my Answer of 10 January, there were a number of reasons why no competitive tendering process was undertaken, including the comparative costs involved and the nature of the work.

Deputy Prime Minister: Purpose of Office

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the purpose of the office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The office of the Deputy Prime Minister in the Cabinet Office is headed by the Deputy Prime Minister. He is supported by a Minister of State (Mrs Barbara Roche MP), by a Parliamentary Secretary (Mr Christopher Leslie MP), and by myself for business in the House of Lords.
	As First Secretary of State, the Deputy Prime Minister continues to deputise for the Prime Minister as required, drawing on the resources of other parts of the Cabinet Office as necessary. He oversees the work of the Social Exclusion Unit, which reports to the Prime Minister through him. He is also responsible for the Regional Co-ordination Unit and the nine Government Offices for the Regions. The Prime Minister has also asked him to be responsible for a White Paper on regional governance, in close liaison with my right honourable friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and in co-operation with other Cabinet colleagues.
	On international matters, the Deputy Prime Minister supports the Prime Minister. He continues to play a role in international climate change discussions and negotiations on behalf of the Prime Minister. More recently, the Prime Minister has also asked the Deputy Prime Minister to take on a similar role in preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) to be held in Johannesburg in September 2002. In addition he sees visiting dignitaries and undertakes overseas visits on behalf of the Prime Minister; and oversees the work of the International Public Service Group. He also carries ministerial responsibility for the British-Irish Council and will deputise as necessary for the Prime Minister at meetings of the council.
	The Deputy Prime Minister chairs Cabinet committees on domestic affairs and on the nations and regions; and sub-committees on social exclusion and regeneration and on energy policy. He also chairs the newly established Ministerial Group (MISC18) on WSSD and continues to chair the Committee on the Environment.
	The Minister of State in the Deputy Prime Minister's Office supports the Deputy Prime Minister across the full range of his duties. In particular, the Minister oversees the work of the Regional Co-ordination Unit and the Government Offices for the Regions, reporting to the Deputy Prime Minister on the development of their role and on the work of the regional network of the COI. The Minister leads on projects arising out of the work of the Social Exclusion Unit, is responsible for the work of the Business Co-ordination Unit, and acts as sponsor Minister for a number of PIU projects. She is also a member of a number of Cabinet committees, including those on the regions and social exclusion.
	In addition, the Minister of State in the Deputy Prime Minister's office is Minister for Women. She co-ordinates equality issues across Whitehall as Chair of the Cabinet sub-committee on equality and has responsibility for the implementation of Article 13 (reporting to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry) and co-ordination of cross-cutting equality issues (on behalf of the three lead equality Ministers). She also reports to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry as the Cabinet Minister for Women on the day-to-day oversight of the Women and Equality Unit and sponsorship of the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Women's National Commission.
	The Parliamentary Secretary supports the Minister of State and the Deputy Prime Minister across the range of their duties. He is also the Minister answerable in the Commons for the business I deal with and for day-to-day decisions on the Civil Service under the Prime Minister as Minister for the Civil Service.
	As Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, I report direct to the Prime Minister. I also work closely with the Deputy Prime Minister as appropriate on related cross-cutting issues covered by the Cabinet committees under his chairmanship.

Animal Feed Checks: Funding

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much of the extra £7.5 million that has been made available to ensure that animal feed has been properly checked at local level will be given to:
	(a) each local authority; and
	(b) for the sole purpose of checking on imported animal feed.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Food Standards Agency is providing funds in the current financial year in response to applications from individual local authorities.
	For 2002–03 and 2003–04 the money will be provided to local authorities via the revenue support grant. The agency, in liaison with local authority representatives, is drawing up an enforcement programme covering all parts of the feed chain including imports of animal feed. The agency will monitor the use of these funds.

Breast Cancer

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 17 December (WA 21), on what basis they conclude that Patrick Carroll's study does not provide evidence of a casual link between induced abortion and breast cancer.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The analysis makes many assumptions and is a simplistic association between a rising incidence of breast cancer and the use of induced abortion but the analysis does not show this relationship to be causal. The potential link between induced abortion and subsequent breast cancer requires a more sophisticated study that would consider the effect of other risk factors and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund report will provide this.

Disability Rights Commission: Statement on Abortion Act 1967

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 13 December (WA 69), whether they have met the Disability Rights Commission, the medical professions, and other relevant organisations to discuss the recent statement from the Disability Rights Commission that Section 1(1)(d) of the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended) is incompatible with the principle that disabled and able-bodied people should be treated equally.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: No meeting has been held yet but the Department of Health is meeting the Disability Rights Commission to discuss a number of issues early this year.

Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001

The Duke of Montrose: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the provisions of the Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001 extend to Scotland.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Yes, the Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001 applies fully to all the United Kingdom countries, including Scotland.

Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the total expenditure in the United Kingdom on research into Alzheimer's disease in each of the past 10 years, showing separately expenditure from public funds.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The main government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its funding via the Department of Trade and Industry. The MRC spent approximately £8.2 million on dementia research in 2000–01 which includes Alzheimer's disease.
	The Department of Health is supporting research into Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia including work on the effectiveness of Donepezil. Management of much of the research supported by National Health Service Research and Development funding is devolved and expenditure at project level is not held centrally by the department.
	Available figures for DH (through the Policy Research Programme and the NHS R&D Programme) and MRC expenditure on Alzheimer's disease/dementia are:
	
		
			  DH MRC 
			  £000s £000s 
			 1994–95 236 3,795 
			 1995–96 225 5,703 
			 1996–97 149 4,780 
			 1997–98 198 5,549 
			 1998–99 287 6,050 
		
	
	The Department of Health does not routinely collect information on research expenditure from charities.
	The Department provides NHS support funding for research commissioned by the research councils and charities that take place in the NHS. Details of projects on Alzheimer's disease can be found on the National Research Register which is avialable on the Internet at:
	http://www.doh.gov.uk/research/nrr.htm.

Parish Councillors: Registration of Gifts and Hospitality

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the model code of conduct in the Parish Councils (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/3576) requires parish councillors to give notification of all gifts or hospitality over the value of £25 or whether the requirement for this declaration is limited to such gifts or hospitality which in any way relate to membership of the parish council.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Paragraph 1(2) of the schedule to the Parish Councils (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2001 (SI 2001/3576) makes it clear that the requirement on parish councillors to register gifts and hospitality over the value of £25 applies only to gifts and hospitality which they receive when they conduct the business of the authority, the business of the office to which they have been elected or appointed, or when they are acting as a representative of the authority.

Parish Councillors: Registration of Gifts and Hospitality

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what basis the requirement on parish councillors to declare gifts and hospitality under the provisions of paragraph 15 of the model code of conduct for parish councils contained in Statutory Instrument 3576 of 2001 is set at £25 rather than the £125 for gifts and £250 for hospitality required under paragraph 5 of the Register of Members' Interests of the House of Commons.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The decision to require parish councillors to register gifts and hospitality over the value of £25 was taken in the light of responses to the extensive consultation exercise carried out with local councils and others between February and April 2001.

Tobacco Growing Subsidy

Baroness Jeger: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the last annual United Kingdom contribution to the subsidy towards the growing of tobacco in European Union countries; and to what third world countries tobacco subsidised by the United Kingdom is exported.

Lord Whitty: Member States contribute to the EU budget as a whole and not to any particular part. The UK contribution is about 12.7 per cent after the effect of the Fontainebleau abatement has been taken into account.
	In the financial year* ending 15 October 2001, 967 meuro (£597 million**) was paid in EU subsidies to tobacco growers.
	In the year 2000, unmanufactured tobacco was exported from the EU to the developing countries and developing transitional countries shown in the table.
	
		
			  Country 
			 D Afghanistan 
			 D Algeria 
			 D Antigua, Barb 
			 D Argentina 
			 D Armenia 
			 D Azerbaijan 
			 D Bangladesh 
			 T Belarus 
			 D Bolivia 
			 D Bosnia-Herz. 
			 D Brazil 
			 T Bulgaria 
			 D Burkina Faso 
			 D Chile 
			 D China 
			 D Colombia 
			 D Croatia 
			 T Czech Rep. 
			 D Dominican R. 
			 D Ecuador 
			 D Egypt 
			 D Ethiopia 
			 D For.JRep.Mac 
			 D Gabon 
			 D Gambia 
			 D Georgia 
			 D Ghana 
			 D Guatemala 
			 D Guinea 
			 D Honduras 
			 T Hungary 
			 D India 
			 D Indonesia 
			 D Iran 
			 D Ivory Coast 
			 D Jamaica 
			 D Jordan 
			 D Kasakhstan 
			 D Kenya 
			 D Kyrghistan 
			 T Latvia 
			 D Lebanon 
			 T Lithuania 
			 D Madagascar 
			 D Malawi 
			 D Malaysia 
			 D Mali 
			 D Malta 
			 D Mauritania 
			 D Mauritius 
			 D Mexico 
			 D Moldova 
			 D Morocco 
			 D Mozambique 
			 D North Korea 
			 D Paraguay 
			 D Philippines 
			 T Poland 
			 T Romania 
			 T Russia 
			 D Rwanda 
			 D Saudi Arabia 
			 D Senegal 
			 D Serb.Monten. 
			 T Slovakia 
			 D Slovenia 
			 D South Africa 
			 D Sri Lanka 
			 D Tadjikistan 
			 D Tanzania 
			 D Thailand 
			 D Trinidad, Tob 
			 D Tunisia 
			 D Turkey 
			 D Uganda 
			 T Ukraine 
			 D Uruguay 
			 D Uzbekistan 
			 D Venezuela 
			 D Vietnam 
			 D Zambia 
			 D Zimbabwe 
		
	
	D = Developing Countries and Territories (Official Development Assistance).
	T = Countries and Territories in Transition (Official Aid).
	* Source: European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).
	** £1 = 1.6202 euro.

EU Environment Council 12 and 13 December 2001

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What matters were discussed and decisions made at the Environment Council held on 12th and 13th December 2001.

Lord Whitty: My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Environment (Mr Michael Meacher) represented the UK at the Environment Council held in Brussels on 12 December 2001. This was the final Environment Council of the Belgian Presidency. Council reached political agreement on two common positions, with the UK voting in favour of both. Council agreed conclusions on a wide-ranging set of topics: sustainable development, international environmental governance, a review of the Pesticides Authorisation Directive (91/414 EC), a Commission communication on the first phase of the European Climate Change Programme and a communication on a strategy for dioxins, furans and PCBs. There was a policy debate on a proposed directive setting up an EU greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme.
	There were four items on the agenda under the heading of climate change. Council heard a report back on the successful outcome of the Seventh Conference of the Parties (COP7) in Marrakech, which took place between 29 October and 10 November. The importance of member states now pressing ahead with ratification of the Kyoto Protocol was stressed. Council also heard a Presidency progress report on a decision to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. Once the decision is agreed, individual member states and the EU will be able to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, the expectation being that they will do so before the World Summit on Sustainable Development in September 2002.
	Council conclusions were also agreed on the implementation of the first phase of the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP), a package of common and co-ordinated policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that has been prepared in discussion with member states and stakeholders.
	During an orientation debate on a proposed EU greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme, all member states expressed support for the establishment of such a scheme. Member states were split on whether the initial phase should have voluntary or mandatory participation. There was broad agreement, however, that credits should be allocated free of charge during the initial phase, and there was also broad support for starting with carbon dioxide alone, with a view to extending the scheme to other greenhouse gases in the future.
	Political agreement on a common position was agreed on a proposed directive to bring Community rules into line with the second pillar of the Aarhus Convention dealing with public consultation in environmental decision-making. The Council endorsed European Parliament amendments aiming to improve information to the public about decisions taken, and to enhance the use of electronic media. The Commission wanted the proposal to apply to updating of all permits, including very minor changes. The common position will only apply in such cases likely to give rise to significant environmental effects. The Commission reserved its position to return to the issue at second reading.
	Council reached political agreement on a proposal to introduce sulphur-free (<10ppm) petrol and diesel in every member state from 1 January 2005 alongside existing fuels. Council agreed that from 1 January 2009 the use of this fuel should be mandatory. The proposal will mean lower exhaust emissions and will facilitate improvements in fuel economy in the future. The UK achieved its key objective of ensuring that the agreement would not impose fuel quality restrictions of fuel (diesel) used by non-road mobile machines (NRMMs) in advance of a full Commission review of the costs and benefits of such a measure.
	Council agreed conclusions in response to the Commission's communication on a strategy for dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls. The strategy proposes a number of actions aimed at preventing the formation and release of these substances; further identification of sources; establishment of indicators; and faster, cheaper measurement methods. Council broadly welcomed the Commission's approach, and asked for it to consider a number of options, including the setting of limit values for emissions under the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive, improved measurement methods, and possible instruments for the control of non-industrial sources of emissions.
	Council heard a brief Presidency progress report on the proposed regulation on traceability and labelling of GMOs. Some provisional agreement had been reached on parts of the text, although issues such as the scope, and the treatment of derived products, need further work. The UK supports the need for an effective traceability and labelling system to deliver reliable information and dependable consumer choice.
	Council conclusions on the EU Sustainable Development Strategy (EU SDS) clarified the role of Environment Council and its complementarity to other Council formations and the GAC's general co-ordinating role; offered views on the four priorities identified by the Gothenburg European Council and promoted the development of an external dimension to the EU SDS. Council asked the Permanent Representatives to report back on how to improve arrangements for co-ordinating work on sustainable development. On global environmental governance, Council agreed conclusions underlining the need to strengthen international environmental structures, as part of the preparations for, and follow up to, the World Summit on Sustainable Development. They referred to the need to strengthen the financial situation of UNEP, including a call for countries to step up their efforts to contribute at the level of the UN assessed rate.
	Conclusions on the Commission's evaluation of the Pesticides Authorisation Directive (91/414 EC) broadly supported the Commission's approach. Council recognised that the review of existing active substances could not be completed within the current timetable of end of 2003. It therefore extended the period for the review to the end of 2008 but to only the end of 2005 for higher priority susbtances. Council also called on the Commission to cover a number of detailed issues in further work in this area including the proposed revision of the directive and a thematic strategy on pesticides.
	The Commission presented a proposal for the revision of Directive 96/82 (Seveso II), and a proposal for the revision of recovery and recycling targets in the directive on packaging and packaging waste. The Commission also gave progress reports on proposed directives on an EU chemicals strategy, recycling of batteries and accumulators and air quality limits for heavy metals in ambient air. The UK drew member states' attention to the problems for air quality posed by rising background levels of ozone precursors, and asked the Commissioner to consider what action was necessary.
	Council also heard progress reports on a thematic strategy for the sustainable use of pesticides and on the revision of Regulation 2455/92 (trade in certain dangerous chemicals) which is necessary to enable the EC to become a party to the Rotterdam Convention. There were also progress reports on the ratification of the Rotterdam Convention and the IMO Convention on TBT, and on Community implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The Commission also briefed Council on the progress of accession negotiations on the environment with the candidate countries.
	Over lunch Ministers held a discussion on global environmental governance and the outcome of the recent WTO negotiations in Doha. Ministers agreed to press heads of government to attend the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, and to include a commitment to that effect in the Laeken European Council conclusions.

Government-sponsored Museums: Policy for Loans Abroad

Lord Freyberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Blackstone on 4 December (WA 127–128), whether they intend to draw up policy guidelines for loans abroad from government-sponsored museums that would clarify:
	(a) what constitutes a "long-term" loan:
	(b) whether the lending institution will be required to maximise income from the loan, or merely to recover its costs;
	(c) whether they would require the museum to identify those items that would never be included in overseas loans of this nature; and
	(d) whether there will be a limit on the number of objects that can be loaned abroad at any one time; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Blackstone on 4 December (WA 127–128), for how long the 350 items envisaged for loan to the Owlsley Brown Frazier Historical Arms Museum in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, will be on loan; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Blackstone on 4 December (WA 127–128), whether the Royal Armouries intention is to maximise income from the planned loan of items to the Owlsley Brown Frazier Historical Arms Museum in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, or merely to recover costs; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Blackstone on 4 December (WA 127–128), whether they will require the Royal Armouries to ensure that the items for long-term loan to the Owlsley Brown Frazier Historical Arms Museum in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, are restricted to what would normally be held in their reserve collection.

Baroness Blackstone: There are no plans as at this stage to introduce policy guidelines on the loan of items from government-sponsored museums. This is a matter for the trustees of those museums with reference to their governing legislation.
	The length of the proposed loan of individual objects, amounting to less than 1 per cent of the Royal Armouries entire collection, to the Owlsley Brown Frazier Historical Arms Museum in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, has yet to be determined. The terms and conditions of such a loan will be in line with the armouries' current loans policy and, as with other loans currently made by the armouries, will be monitored and reviewed regularly. The Royal Armouries' intention is that the planned loan will be on a strict cost recovery basis. However, the armouries will seek to use its presence in the United States to enhance its academic status and generate fundraising revenue at no expense to the taxpayer.
	It is for the trustees of the Royal Armouries to determine which objects to lend from their collections in accordance with section 21 of the National Heritage Act 1983, and what terms and conditions to attach to such a loan.

Historic Vessels

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether their examination of the marine archaeology legislation as part of the review of statutory controls proposed in The Historic Environment: A Force for Our Future (paragraph 4.38) will include a review of the presentation of historic vessels that are still afloat today.

Baroness Blackstone: Historic vessels still afloat are not covered by the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 or any other statutory controls, therefore a review of their presentation will not be included in the proposed review of marine archaeology legislation. However, following the important work done by the National Historic Ships Committee in producing its core collection and designated vessel lists, which have provided an invaluable guide to this aspect of our maritime heritage, we are currently considering a policy for the preservation of historic ships.

Scottish Constituencies: Westminster Elections

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the timetable for the planned reduction in the number of Scottish constituencies for Westminster elections under the Scotland Act 1998; and whether they expect it to take place in this Parliament.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The timetable will depend on when the Boundary Commission for Scotland reports on its review of the parliamentary constituencies to the Secretary of State for Scotland. The review was formally commenced on 29 June 2001. The Boundary Commission is required, by the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 to submit its report between December 2002 and December 2006. It is a matter for the commission when, within that time-scale, it does so.